Browsing by Author "Hendricks, Mogamat Mahgadien"

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    The Qur�?nic Sufi Hermeneutics of Shaykh Mu??af?� al-�Al?w?: A critical study of his Lub?b al- �Ilm F? S?rah al-Najm
    (University of the Western Cape, 2018) Hendricks, Mogamat Mahgadien; Mohamed, Yasien
    The main focus of this dissertation is a critical study of the Arabic text, titled: Lub?b al �Ilm F? S?rah al-Najm (The Kernel of Knowledge in the Chapter of the Star) by Shaykh Ahmad bin Mu??af?� al-�Al?w?. Due to the lack of research on esoteric commentaries of the Qur??n in the English language, there is a need to embark upon an in-depth study of such texts. An important work on Shaykh al-�Al?w? in English is Martin Lings� A Sufi Saint of the Twentieth Century. This book is an excellent introduction to the life, works and thought of Shaykh al-�Al?w?, but it does not deal with a specific text in any detail. Thus, the purpose of this dissertation is to examine closely the above-mentioned text of Shaykh al-�Al?w? as a sample of his esoteric interpretation of the Qur??n. For the purpose of this thesis, I shall undertake a translation of his exegesis (tafs?r) on S?rah al-Najm (the Chapter of the Star). I will include with it explanatory notes and identification of key quotations and sources. This sample from Shaykh al-�Al?w?�s work will form the basis of my critical analyses. It will also provide a means for comparison with some of his other works, and with Qur??nic commentaries of the same genre by other Sufi scholars, both classical and modern. In this dissertation, I also seek to offer some answers and proofs concerning the validity of the existence of esoteric tafs?r and why it is needed. I will do this by examining key verses in the Qur�?n and the Sunnah (traditions of the Prophet Mu?ammad). The distinction between esoteric and exoteric interpretations of the Qur??n will also be dealt with in this dissertation. Although the emphasis will be on the esoteric dimension, neither the esoteric nor the exoteric dimension will be treated in a mutually exclusive way. Most Arabic commentaries on the Qur??n tend towards the exoteric and literal meanings of the text, but the exoteric form also has an inner dimension which Shaykh al-�Al?w? demonstrates in his commentary on S?rah al-Najm.
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    A translation, with critical introduction, of Shaykh al-`Al?w?�s al-Ris?lah al-Qawl al-Ma`R?f f? al-Radd `al? man Ankara al-Tasawwuf (a kind word in response to those who reject Sufism)
    (University of the Western Cape, 2019) Hendricks, Mogamat Mahgadien; Mohamed, Yasien
    The objective of this thesis is the translation of an original defence of Suf? practice titled al- Ris?lah al-Qawl al-Ma`r?f f? al-Radd `al? man Ankara al-Tasawwuf (A Kind Word in Response to those who Reject Sufism) by the Shaykh Ah?mad ibn Mu??af? al-`Al?w?. By translating this text it is hoped to affirm the principle that Sufism is the result of ijtih?d (legal reasoning) rather than bid`ah (innovation) and that it therefore forms part of Sunnah. This chapter provides our introduction to the translated text. Section One reviews classical works in defence of the Sufis, as well as secondary sources relied upon by the translator. Section Two provides a description of the life and works of Shaykh A?mad ibn Mu??af? al- `Al?w?. Section three discusses the legacy of the Shaykh, including the contemporary state of the `Alawiyah ?ar?qah. Section Four provides a short analysis of some of the written works of the Shaykh. Section Five evaluates the methodology of the Shaykh as a method of ijtih?d. Section Six introduces the translated text that follows this chapter. Section Seven outlines the translation strategy that is followed. It also highlights unique problems encountered during translation, such as words with unique meanings and words with nuances and meanings different to that implied by the author.
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    A translation, with critical introduction, of Shaykh °Alawåi al-Risåalah al-Qawl al-Ma `råuf fåi al-Radd `alåa man Ankara al-Tasawwuf: A kind word in response to those who reject Sufism.
    (University of the Western Cape, 2005) Hendricks, Mogamat Mahgadien; Mohamed, Yasien; Dept. of Foreign Languages; Faculty of Arts
    The objective of this thesis was the translation of an original defence of Sufi practice titled "A Kind word in response to those who reject sufism" by Shaykh Aòhmad ibn Muòsòtafá °Alawåi. This book was written in defence of Sufis and Sufism. This research provide some notes on the life, spiritual heritage and writings of the Shaykh °Alawåi in conjunction with a critical introduction to complement the translated text. The Shaykh's methodology applied in his ijtihåad to validate and defend the Sufis and their practices was also reviewed.